What's 1 step up from Allen Edmonds Park Avenues?

huskyzealot · Dec 21, 2007

Allen Edmonds Park Avenues are almost unanimously recommended on these boards to people seeking a standard/simple style black cap-toe (often the first shoe in ones collection). They are praised for their good "bang for the buck" as well as well as their simplicity, conservative look and build quality.

I am wondering if someone was able to spend a couple hundred more, say $500 give or take, on a pair of standard cap-toes would the AE Park Ave's still be the shoe of choice?
Essentially, Is there something out there that might bring a little more quality to the table but still be a good starting point for a young professionals "nice shoe" collection?

Thanks

TheHoff · Dec 21, 2007

Santoni FAM <> Ferragamo Tramezza, both available on eBay for under $350 each

marc237 · Dec 21, 2007

I would prefer the C&J Audley over the A&E for the extra money. Hoff's choices good for the lower end.

gdl203 · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by marc237

I would prefer the C&J Audley over the A&E for the extra money. Hoff's choices good for the lower end.

Santoni FAM and Tramezza are "lower end" ?

marc237 · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by gdl203

Santoni FAM and Tramezza are "lower end" ?

No offense, I meant only price wise. I think the C&J would run around $425.00 on PLAL.

stickonatree · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by marc237

No offense, I meant only price wise. I think the C&J would run around $425.00 on PLAL.

tramezza retail is $600+ i believe, so similar to C&J retail. only at the outlets/ebay are tramezzas they ~$350 or less. i'm not as sure on the FAMs but i also believe they are in the same price range, if not higher.

marc237 · Dec 21, 2007

Sure, but I am not seeing C&J Audleys on the bay so much. In any event, I am perfectly happy to friendly amend and say Sutor, Tramezza, and Audley would all be good choices and it becomes a matter of personal taste.

huskyzealot · Dec 21, 2007

I have never owned a pair of Santoni shoes before. If I wear an 11D in Ferragamo, 10.5D in Allen Edmonds & 9.5D in Gucci.

What is my size for Santoni?

Thanks in advance.

CunningSmeagol · Dec 21, 2007

Alden

lee_44106 · Dec 21, 2007

E Park Avenues retail for $315. You can get them for around $230, brand new, first quality. Paying $200 more to "step up" to a Crockett & Jones or Santoni FAM (even if you can even find one at that price) is not a good value proposition. A little better finish in detail, and perhaps better quality leather (I'm not sure about this).

The only reason, in my opinion, to go to a C&J is for the sleeker style, as the price increase is not justified by the "quality" increase, over a pair of AE Park Avenue.

NoVaguy · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by RunningBeagle

Alden

Only if you want something that looks like a pair of Rockports. The park avenue has better aesthetics. Alden may be good with shell cordovan and at making tassel loafers, but they don't make very good cap-toes.

huskyzealot · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by lee_44106

AE Park Avenues retail for $315. You can get them for around $230, brand new, first quality. Paying $200 more to "step up" to a Crockett & Jones or Santoni FAM (even if you can even find one at that price) is not a good value proposition. A little better finish in detail, and perhaps better quality leather (I'm not sure about this). The only reason, in my opinion, to go to a C&J is for the sleeker style, as the price increase is not justified by the "quality" increase, over a pair of AE Park Avenue.
Thanks for this reply, this is exactly what I was curious about. I am thinking that I will compare the "style" of both the C&J Audley and the AE Park Ave's and then decide what I think. Plal has the Audleys for M$1499, which I think is about $450. Could I expect to find Audleys for a better price anywhere (non-ebay) or is that about as good as it gets?

JLibourel · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by lee_44106

AE Park Avenues retail for $315. You can get them for around $230, brand new, first quality. Paying $200 more to "step up" to a Crockett & Jones or Santoni FAM (even if you can even find one at that price) is not a good value proposition. A little better finish in detail, and perhaps better quality leather (I'm not sure about this).

The only reason, in my opinion, to go to a C&J is for the sleeker style, as the price increase is not justified by the "quality" increase, over a pair of AE Park Avenue.

Pretty much sums up my opinions as well. I think to get a conspicuously "better" shoe than the PA--one where people other than shoe geeks might notice a difference--you have to get up into EG/JLP territory, and I am not sure even then in the case of black shoes. And the huge price differential between EG/JLP and AE just isn't worth it to a po' boy like me. I'll be better shod in my AEs than 99.99 percent of the men I encounter here in slovenly California.

sho'nuff · Dec 21, 2007

Originally Posted by huskyzealot

I have never owned a pair of Santoni shoes before. If I wear an 11D in Ferragamo, 10.5D in Allen Edmonds & 9.5D in Gucci.

What is my size for Santoni?

Thanks in advance.

that is a general question. santoni sizing varies amongst their various lines and within their lines.
if you are a standard 10.5 D US, generally , you would wear same size in U.S. Classic models and Goodyear classic models. You will wear a 10D in Fatte A Mano mostly and Limited ed.

alliswell · Dec 21, 2007

PA and the Alden bals have a 'short cap' - the cap doesn't extend far enough for me (oddly, the Alden blucher is fine.) The Audley is a little larger, and therefore a noticeably better shoe. And for the price, a finer construction than the comparable Santoni Darren.

What's 1 step up from Allen Edmonds Park Avenues?

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